Kyrgyzstan is a trekker’s mecca, but most people only visit Alakul lake in Karakol. There are many beautiful trails in Kyrgyzstan, but the lack of infrastructure makes it difficult to access these areas. One such place is the Sary Chelek Biosphere Reserve. The reserve consists of a series of lakes and boasts a large variety […]
Tag: hiking

Making the trek to Alakul lake in Kyrgyzstan
If there is only one trek you can do in Kyrgyzstan, it has to be the trek to Alakul lake. Although this is also the most popular trek in the country, the views along the way are simply too amazing to skip. Alakul lake is an alpine lake 3,650m above sea level and the round-trip […]

Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lakes: Nature that wows
The first impression people have of Kazakhstan is usually of endless steppe and deserts. While not totally false, Kazakhstan also has its share of stunning landscapes. The southeast region of Kazakhstan is full of natural formations, with mountains, lakes and rivers waiting to be discovered. In this article, I will be introducing Charyn Canyon and […]

9 things to do in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Honestly, I am not a big fan of cities. Traffic jams, packed subways and ugly apartment blocks are just not to my liking. However, I have to admit: cities are convenient. You can easily fly into or out of them, find whatever you need from the supermarket just down the road and eat something fancy. […]

6 places to visit in Northern Xinjiang
Northern Xinjiang is a nature-lover’s paradise. The magnificent Tien Shan Mountains down south and the gorgeous Altai Mountains up north surround the entire region. Even the flatter areas are not spared from the gifts of nature – beautiful grasslands, pristine lakes and meandering rivers fill whatever that is left. Opportunities for hiking are aplenty, but […]

5 day trekking route around Yubeng village
Heading to Lijiang or Shangri-la in Yunnan, China? Why not go further north and explore the sacred Meili snow mountain? Many tourists stop at Shangri-la, but the most beautiful part of this route lies further ahead. The trek to Yubeng village, within the Meili snow mountain range, is one of the most beautiful treks you […]

Yubeng village: A trek in China you have to do
You probably have heard of the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan, but you may not have heard of Yubeng village. Yubeng village is a small and unknown place in Yunnan. For hundreds of years, it was never discovered, simply because of how secluded and hidden it was. Situated at the foot of the Meili snow […]

Why you should visit Yunnan when in China
Yunnan is seldom on the international tourist radar, simply because everyone is going to Beijing and Shanghai. While Yunnan cannot provide the glitz and glamour that the big cities are proud of, it offers what you can never find in the coastal regions of China. Here are nine reasons why you should visit Yunnan the […]